Jurors hear, see details of Ruth Pyne's injuries

The Oakland Press /DOUG BAUMAN
Jeffrey Pyne of Highland Twp. stands as the jury for his murder trial walks into the Oakland County Circuit Courtroom of Judge Leo Bowman. Pyne is accused of murdering his mother.

Ortiz-Reyes said Ruth Pyne suffered fractures to her upper left arm, just above the elbow, as well as her left forearm. A laceration on her right middle finger appeared to have been caused by a blunt force object as well.

Ruth Pyne was struck on her head at least nine times by a blunt force object. Still alive, she fell to the ground and was stabbed in the neck 16 times, Ortiz-Reyes said.

The person or people who committed the crime "showed overkilling," he said.

"In cases like this when there are (so) many injuries, the person was really upset."

Ortiz-Reyes said overkilling often occurs between lovers when one discovers the other has been cheating on them. It can also occur among family members.

"(Overkilling) can occur in a person that has problems with a mother because they are really frustrated, and they do these kind of killings because something is bothering them," he said.

There were no signs of sexual assault in any part of the body.

As jurors were being shown graphic photos of Ruth Pyne's injuries, including multiple photos of severe wounds to the back of her head, one juror fell ill. After a brief recess, she was able to continue on the jury and had no further problems for the remainder of the day.

Ruth Pyne suffered multiple skull fractures and a portion of her brain was exposed. There was also hemorrhaging of the brain, as well as to the neck, which indicated that she was still alive when she was stabbed.

Jeffrey Pyne, 22, is accused of killing his mother, Ruth Pyne, 51, on May 27, 2011, in the garage of their Burwood Court home in Highland Township. He is charged with first-degree premeditated murder.

The trial will resume at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in front of Oakland County Circuit Judge Leo Bowman.